Wichita eagle., 1887-09-01
ENJOYING HERSELF.
MRS. LANGTRY'S HOME LIFE TOLD
BY ONE WHO KNOWS.

"Patting" an Accompaniment for a Jig.
Walking to Keep Herself Thin and
Her Complexion Clear-A Peep at Her
Treasures.
Mrs. Langtry'S G-year-old niece Jeanne,
with her hands full Of new photographs of
her aunt, was the first to greet me when en-
tered the house in Twenty-third street the
other day. Between Mrs. Langtry and her
little niece there is closer bond than usually
appears between mother and child Even in
her busiest days the two have their confiden-
tial times together. After Jeanne has had
her tea and is in the nursery, up runs Tantie
to show her herself dressed for dinner. And
after dinner. before she leaves for the theatre,
once more goes Tantie for a good night. Sic
romps with her little and dances with her
In way that would win anybody's heart
Mrs. Langtry came running down the
stairs, and, after the usual greetings, said:
"Now for jig, Jeanne" The piano was in
TIE music room, but that did not make the
slightest difference. Tantie herself sat upon
the arm OF the sofa, clapping her hands and
singing jig, and the dance went on lust the
same until Mrs. Langtry, breathless and
laughing, sat herself down "properlv,n as she
called it,
wish [ could reproduce one Of this clever
womans talks and make every one know her.
as the child called it, 'herself." Even in the
freedom of the nursery, or Of her private
home life, nothing ever pleases Mrs Iangtry
that Is not refined and wellbred. Instead of
being imperative and ceremonious. there is q
constant fund Of womanlinesS, and what is
rarer yet, pure fun. The fun Of q speech, or
q situation, or yet only Of an idea. is never
lost to her, but is, ten to one, brought out
with single touch for others to enioy. She
does not tell many stories; indeed. I have
rarely heard her tell one Instead. there is a
smiling II remember" that is more amusing.
HER HOME LOVE.
One strong point about Mrs. Langtry her.
self IS her home love. Her pretty home in
Twenty-third street shows that. Not in the
beauty or elegance of the fittings. though
that Is there but in the pride she takes in it.
Her servants are paragons, and her lunches
and dinners are perfection. For one thing, |
doubt If Mrs Langtry has piece Of modern
silver IN the house For years she has spent
whole days, III England, mousinp around
among the second hand and pawn shop for
antiques. As consequence. besides her own
family silver, the table is set with antique
silver, some of it hundreds of years old. The
footman takes infinite pride in it and places
and replaces it on cabinet and buffet. Then
again there is china. What this Young woman
does not know about wares, and methods. and
values in china decoration and old china is
useless information
And embrOideriaSi Tbora oc-,-..
tapestries to modern panelings, it is all at
her fingers tips to tell the good from the bad.
ana Its real value. These are her fads. She
enjoys them, and, as she shrewdIy saws. il is
q very good way of spending money. When
she feels extravagant she sallies forth, finds q
new shop, or, rather, one new to her. and
looks about for something worth buyinr
What would have bought a new bonnet. or
at most new gown, in this way is put into
something that will be worth from twice to
Ten omes Its value ten years from now. Her
house Is filled with these treasures. and then.
beside, there are lots of them slowed away
Tor a time when, instead of a hired house. she
may have one of her own. She is always on
the lookout for American art productions
her hrSt question when she enters one of these
curiosity or brio brac shops is for something
really American"
CARE OF HERSELF
When | say that instead of buying gowns
Mrs Langtry buys silver tanllards and old
china platters, do not mean to suggest that
the wardrobe ever remains neglected. Far
from 1t. Mrs Langtry appreciates the first
and most important duty of womankind. the
care and development and protection of her
self. When she does not feel as fresh as she
might when things worry her and she knows
she is not IN good trim physically, she walks
fast and furiOusly. Her favorite spin is
through Twenty-third street to Fifth avenue.
up to Central park, part way through the
park and home again. Walking, strangely
enough, is the one way for her to keep thin.
Fencing makes her grow fat now, and so do
Turkish baths. But wall1ing-ah. that"
she says, ''is what does woman good.n Its
so with her complexion. If she feels that
that does not please her. then indeed she
walks, and walks often. 1t is the one thing
TO do She does not believe in a woman's
using anything on her face for beautifying
purposes. Indeed, if | ever heard her saw q
sharp thing about women it was when she de
clared one day that there was not one woman
out of ten nowadays that had a clean face.
She wears the prettiest gowns-of course
Paris gowns almost without exception-and
from the soft, loose, fur trimmed morning
gowns TO her handsomest dinner dress there
is never a tone wrong. One morning found
her in II long, loose gown of Nile green pop
lin, trimmed with long white fox fur. 1t was
bought when all English women were buyinC
these poplins from charity to Ireland Mrs.
Langtry sent hers to Paris to be made.
Naturally there did not seem to the clever
milliner much opportunity for elaboration,
but when he sent it home it was found to be
lined throughout with white uncut velvet, a
really royal garment.-Fannie B. Merrill in
New York World.
When the Lightnings Flash.
When it hghtens you should close the |
Windows and doors. II Nnn hava Ini,r head